Flag-signal for use on railways.



W. S. LENG.

FLAG SIGNAL FOR USE ON EAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED 020.14.1914.

mmmmn v Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

IIFIIM AT I.

WILLIAM SAMUEL LENG, OF GATESHEAID, ENGLAND.

FLAG-SIGNAL FOR USE ON RAILWAYS.

Application filed December 14, 1914.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM SaMUEL LENG, asubject of the King of England, residing at Gateshead, in the county ofDurham, in England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFlag-Signals for Use on Railways, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention consists of improvements in flag signals for use onrailways to protect workmen during alterations or repairs to thepermanent way.

The ordinary flag signal consists of a red flag fixed to the top of astall having a pointed iron shoe on the bottom end. In use, the flagstafi is thrust into the ballast between or near the rails at a distancefrom the workmen. This mode of fixing is insecure; as shown in thedrawings the present invention comprises two connected but relativelymovable staves, each adapted to carry a flag, and means such as shoes atthe lower ends of said staves for engaging the track rails to supportthe staves thereon, thus producing a secure device spanning the trackand showing two signals.

The invention also comprises details of construction and arrangements ofparts hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the appended claimswith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is anelevation showing the device in use. Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation.Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial elevation showing the shoe applied to theoutside of a heavy section rail, and Fig. 4 a simllar view showing sameapplied to the inside of such a rail. Fig 5 is an enlarged elevationshowing an adapting piece on the shoe, and Fig. 6 a similar view showingthe application of the shoe when the device is used in connection withlight section rails. Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged elevations showing amodified form of shoe for fixing or applying to the inside of the rails.V

I provide two staves a each with a flag 0 at the top and fasten saidstaves together at or about their centers by a pin or bolt 6 in such amanner that they are free to turn with respect to each other. The flagsare either permanently connected to the staves or provided with sheathsor pockets of leather or other material for fitting on the ends of thestaves. The lower end of each staff is fixed as by bolts or rivets 39into a socket d integral with or connected to a Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 12, I916.

Serial No. 877,057.

metallic shoe 6 shaped to fit on and embrace the outer edge of the topbulb or flange of one of the rails a when said lower ends of the stavesare drawn apart to bring them over the two rails forming the track, asshown in Fig. 1. The breadth of the shoes 6 vis sufiicient to keep thestaves firmly in the upright position. The staves instead of being inone piece as shown may each be formed of two or more pieces and arrangedlazy-tongs fashion, particularly in cases where storage room is limited.One end of a helical spring or the like 9 or a bar of adjustable length,is fastened as by a clip h to one staff between the shoe 0 and theconnection Z) of the two staves, and when in use the other end of thespring 9 or bar is detachably fastened as by hooking to a clip 70 on acorresponding horizontal point in the other staff. When out of use saidother end of the spring may be secured as by a clip y' to the firststafi as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. When the shoes 6 are placed inposition on the rails 01, the action of the spring 9 tends to bring theshoes together and firmly hold them on the rails.

Instead of making the shoe 6 and socket d in one, I may join thempivotally together so that the shoe can be turned to fit against theinside edge of the top of the rail. With this arrangement of shoes thestaves can be clipped to either the outside (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6) orto the inside edges (Fig. 4) of the rails as may be preferred.

Figs. 7 and 8 also show another form of shoe for application to theinside of the rails the shoe in. this case being shaped and fixed to thesocket at such an angle that it bears against the web and part of thehead and foot of the rail. Provision is made such as a clip or socket mfor hanging lamps to the staves for use in the dark, and to one or bothstaves a detonator may be fixed with a trigger and spring arrangementfor striking the detonator in the event of the staves being upset fromany cause, and thus attract the attention of the workmen.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there is illustrated an adapter piece 7 pivoted to theshoe e and capable of being turned up into the position shown in Fig. 6to enable the shoe to fit the heads of rails of light section. Zdesignates a curved member secured to the socket d to receive the end ofthe other staff with the two staves folded together when the device isnot in use.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is l. A signal device for use on railways comprisingtwo pivotally connected relatively movable members, and means at thelower ends of said members for engaging the track rails to support thedevice.

2. A railway signal device comprising two movable members pivotallyconnected at their centers, rail engaging devices pivotally attached tothe lower ends of said members, and flags attached to the upper ends ofsaid members.

A railway signal device comprising two movable intersecting memberspivotally connected together, a spring attached to said members adaptedto hold their lower ends against the rails, and signals attached to theupper ends of said members.

A. A railway signal device comprising two members pivotally connectedtogether at their centers, means for securing lamps thereto; shoemembers attached to the lower ends of said members adapted to engage therails, and means for holding said shoe members tightly againstsaidrails.

5.111 a signal device for railways, the combination of two intersectingmembers pivotally connected together, shoes attached to said membersadapted to engage the rails; saidshoes being shaped to fit the top ofthe rail, substantially as described.

6. A railway signaling device comprising intersecting members pivotallyconnected together, means for securing signals thereto, rail engagingmeans pivotally secured to the lower ends of said members, and a springconnected to said members below the pivot and adapted to hold saidmembers in position on the rails, substantially as described.

7; In a railway signal the combination with staves pivotally connectedtogether and carrying flags at their upper ends, of shoe membersattached to their lower ends, comprising, socket members pivotallyconnected to said staves, and plates attached to said sockets and shapedto conform with the top of the rail and adapted to engage said rails,substantially as described.

8. A railway signal device comprising two movable stares pivotallyconnected at their centers, rail engaging means attached at their lowerends consisting of a shoe pivotally connected to said staves and adaptedto engage the rail and flags attached to their upper ends.

9. A railway signal device comprising two movable staves pivotallyconnected togcther, shoes attached to their lower ends adapted to engagethe rails, a spring attached to said staves adapted to hold said starestightly against said rails and flags attached to their upper ends.

10. A railway signal device comprising two rods pivotally connectedtogether at their centers, flags secured to their upper ends; means forsecuring lamps to said rods, shoe members attached to their lower endsadapted to en age the rails, a spring connecting said rods adapted tohold said shoe members tightly against said rails.

11. In a signal device for railways, the combination of rods pivotallyconnected together and carrying flags at their upper ends, of means forsecuring said rods to the rails consisting of shoe members adapted toengage said rails, said shoe members being composed of sockets adaptedto be socured to the ends of said rods and having attached theretoplates shaped to lit the top of the rail, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo witnesses.

lVILLIAM SAMUEL LENG. lVitnesses A. Mrrenmson, l. S. GARDNER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

